NEWS RELEASES
Carers take a relaxing day off
20th June 2007
CARERS enjoyed a massage, cream teas, a free swim and a wealth of free advice and support at two free events held recently in Pulborough and Horsham.
Carers are people who care for and support relatives or friends who are frail or have physical or mental illness or disability or are affected by substance misuse or HIV/AIDS. Increasingly there are also a number of children and young people with caring responsibilities.
Turnout to the events was good, with a number of carers attending the day held at Pulborough Brooks RSPB on 11 June and at the Pavilions in the Park event in Horsham the next day.
Local carer Molly Garland from Horsham enjoyed a free cup of tea in the sunshine and got some advice from May Pope of the Horsham Branch of Carers UK.
Molly said:
”I’ve found lots of information today that I would never normally have come across; the solutions available are marvellous.”
She added:
“As a result of today I have decided I will try to get on a relaxation course!”
At the Horsham event, Community Matrons were standing by to answer questions, give free health checks and even had a masseur to give hand massages to tired carers.
Linda Still, who looks after her elderly mother in Billingshurst, attended both days and was amazed by all the services on offer.
She said:
“I especially enjoyed the wonderful massage I received in Pulborough and I have made use of the health check in Horsham.”
Prior to the Horsham event, there was a free workshop at Horsham’s Y Centre in Albion Way which taught carers how to lift and manoeuvre the person they care for. About 52% of carers suffer from a physical injury, so it is especially important that they can develop these skills.
Information was available at both events on a range of topics to help and inform carers, including details of support services and tips for caring for people with dementia. Details about other helpful local services, such as the Community Link alarm and Horsham District Council’s Leisure Link team, were also there.
The two events were jointly organised by Horsham District Council, West Sussex County Council, West Sussex Primary Care Trust, West Sussex Carers Network, Carers UK Horsham Branch and Horsham Area Council for Voluntary Service.
Useful further information sources for carers are as follows:
- carerssupport.org.uk tel: 01293 553395
- carerswsx.org.uk tel: 01903 528600
- westsussexcarers.org.uk This website aims to put carers in touch with local support and services and to direct carers to sources of national information.
Ends
CONTACT: Richard Morris, Communications Manager
Email: richard.morris@horsham.gov.uk